While the franchise opted not to celebrate with champagne in the locker room following the victory, the Bucks did stay on the court for the trophy presentation from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was named tournament MVP, which is yet another impressive note on his already stellar resume. When he was done with the trophy, it eventually made its way to head coach Doc Rivers.
Fortunately, everything turned out OK. But there was nearly a big problem:
What is it about Trae Young that New Yorkers despise so much?
One of the greatest rivalries in basketball over the past few years is between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young.
If you are wondering how this all started, it all began during the 2021 NBA postseason. It was the first time that Young made the playoffs during his pro career and the first game of the series was at Madison Square Garden.
Young played extraordinarily well, scoring 32 points and recording 10 assists. At one point late during the game, Young took a bow after a go-ahead basket. He also silenced the crowd, gesturing his finger toward his mouth.
The Hawks went on to win the series as the guard averaged 29.2 points per game during the elimination.
Ever since that incident, though, the crowd has not exactly given him the warmest reception in New York. In fact, even during games not against the Hawks, crowds have still chanted all sorts of crazy things at Young in viral videos.
While he missed the next game Atlanta played at Madison Square Garden, his return to New York resulted in 45 points. He said it wasn’t even that loud at the arena.
The following match, Young then appeared wearing shoes that said “King of Broadway” but lost the game. This only added more fuel to the fire for fans.
New York and Atlanta will have another chance to ignite the rivalry when the Knicks and Hawks play in the NBA Cup on Wednesday night.
As we prepare for the final day of group play in the NBA Cup, only three teams have punched a ticket to the next round and five spots remain.
We know the Hawks (shockingly!), Rockets, and Warriors will all advance to the knockout phase of the tournament. But three of the other groups yet to have a winner while both the West and East wild card spots are still open as well.
Each group winner moves on to the next round, and one wild card from each conference advances as well.
With some very important games left on the last day of group play in the second year of this experiment by the league, here is how it all looks to play out:
East: Group A
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Orlando Magic
3
0
60
Alive
New York Knicks
3
0
15
Alive
Philadelphia 76ers
1
2
-9
Out
Brooklyn Nets
1
3
-39
Out
Charlotte Hornets
0
3
-27
Out
Orlando and New York play each other at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The winner will advance out of Group A. Orlando would likely advance through the wild card with a loss, though New York would hav a much tougher chance due to their point differential.
IMPORTANT GAME:Â Magic @ Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
East: Group B
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Milwaukee Bucks
3
0
29
Alive
Detroit Pistons
3
0
28
Alive
Miami Heat
2
2
20
Out
Toronto Raptors
0
3
-28
Out
Indiana Pacers
0
3
-49
Out
Milwaukee and Detroit play each other on Tuesday night, and the winner will officially take Group B. Both are still alive as potential wild cards with a loss, too, but need a better overall point differential than the Celtics and the loser of New York and Orlando.
IMPORTANT GAME: Bucks @ Pistons (7:00 p.m. ET)
East: Group C
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Atlanta Hawks
3
1
15
Clinched Group
Boston Celtics
3
1
23
Alive
Chicago Bulls
2
2
6
Out
Cleveland Cavaliers
1
2
-1
Out
Washington Wizards
0
3
-43
Out
Atlanta has already won this group and with the exception of the Celtics, every other team is eliminated. Boston could come out in the wild card spot, but it will depend on point differential.
IMPORTANT GAME:Â N/A
East: Wild Card
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Orlando Magic
3
0
60
Alive
Milwaukee Bucks
3
0
29
Alive
Detroit Pistons
3
0
28
Alive
New York Knicks
3
0
15
Alive
Boston Celtics
3
1
23
Alive
Orlando or New York will advance out of group play, and so will either Detroit and Milwaukee. Between the losers of those games, and the Celtics, the team with the best point differential of that bunch will earn the wild card.
IMPORTANT GAME(S): Bucks @ Pistons (7:00 p.m. ET), Magic @ Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
West: Group A
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Houston Rockets
3
0
49
Clinched Group
Portland Trail Blazers
2
1
-5
Alive
Minnesota Timberwolves
2
2
-13
Out
L.A. Clippers
1
2
-6
Alive
Sacramento Kings
0
3
-25
Out
Houston has already won this group, but Portland and L.A. are both potentially able to advance via the wild card based on how their game goes at the Intuit Dome on Tuesday.
IMPORTANT GAME:Â Trail Blazers @ Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)
West: Group B
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
San Antonio Spurs
2
1
14
Alive
Oklahoma City Thunder
2
1
18
Alive
Phoenix Suns
2
1
19
Alive
Los Angeles Lakers
2
2
-24
Out
Utah Jazz
0
3
-27
Out
This is arguably the most fun group left because three teams all have a chance to win the group and the two that do not can still advance via wild card seeding.
IMPORTANT GAME(S): Jazz @ Thunder (8:00 p.m. ET), Spurs @ Suns (9:00 p.m. ET)
West: Group C
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Golden State Warriors
3
0
12
Clinched Group
Dallas Mavericks
2
1
41
Alive
Denver Nuggets
1
2
2
Alive
Memphis Grizzlies
1
2
-6
Alive
New Orleans Pelicans
1
3
-49
Out
Golden State has already won this group, but three other teams still have a real chance to advance based on the remaining games. The other games give the remaining teams a chance in the wild card, though.
IMPORTANT GAME(S):Â Grizzlies @ Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET), Warriors @ Nuggets (10:00 p.m. ET on TNT)
West: Wild Card
TEAM
WINS
LOSSES
DIFFERENTIAL
IN/OUT
Dallas Mavericks
2
1
41
Alive
Phoenix Suns
2
1
19
Alive
Oklahoma City Thunder
2
1
18
Alive
San Antonio Spurs
2
1
14
Alive
Portland Trail Blazers
2
1
-5
Alive
Denver Nuggets
1
2
2
Alive
Memphis Grizzlies
1
2
-6
Alive
L.A. Clippers
1
2
-6
Alive
One of the teams from Group B (San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix) will not need a wild card berth but instead advance from winning their group. Otherwise, while Dallas has the best chance of any team to win the wild card, there are plenty of other teams statistically still able to clinch a spot into the knockout rounds.
IMPORTANT GAME(S): Jazz @ Thunder (8:00 p.m. ET), Grizzlies @ Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET), Spurs @ Suns (9:00 p.m. ET), Warriors @ Nuggets (10:00 p.m. ET on TNT), Trail Blazers @ Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)
Former NBA star Joakim Noah is uniquely positioned to discuss the connections between tennis and basketball.
Former NBA star Joakim Noah is uniquely positioned to discuss the connections between tennis and basketball.
Noah, a two-time collegiate men’s basketball national champion at the University of Florida, grew up in New York. His father, Yannick Noah, was a widely-known tennis star in France and reached career-high singles ranking of No. 3 in the world.
After his March Madness titles, Noah enjoyed a long and successful career as a professional basketball player. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and even won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
Although he did not follow in his father’s footsteps to play tennis, he still follows the sport and recently attended the US Open in his hometown of New York City.
The former basketball star, who is celebrated for his intensity and being unafraid to clash with LeBron James, caught up with For The Win from the Emirates Suite during their NBA night at the 2024 US Open.
He discussed his thoughts on tennis star Frances Tiafoe (who wore Noah’s jersey before a match earlier this year), the recent rise of basketball in France (where he represented the national team), and more.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Do you think Frances Tiafoe is creating a bridge between basketball and tennis?
Joakim Noah: Yeah! He has an inner city energy about him and it resonates a lot with the hoopers. A lot of the tennis players donât know too much about basketball and heâs definitely a bridge. He has a great personality. I love the way he carries himself out there and he is somebody that a lot of the hoopers can relate to.
What drew you to basketball over tennis given your family background?
Joakim Noah: My father was a larger-than-life personality in France. It made me shy away from the game because of peopleâs expectation toward me when it came to tennis. I felt really safe playing basketball. I loved the team aspect. I loved being able to have friends and be able to do my own thing.
To what do you credit the recent rise of basketball in France?
Joakim Noah: Being retired from the game, I have more time and perspective to travel. I also grew up in the French grassroots system. I understand the difference between the AAU circuit out here in America compared to over there. The reality is that the competition is getting tighter. There is not this dominance that USA once had. I really believe that the reason why, especially in watching [the men’s Olympics gold medal] game, is that the grassroots system is completely different over there. That is the reason you are seeing all of these young talents coming in through the draft. You are seeing Wemby, who is obviously the next face of the league. But they are also doing something on a day-to-day basis: Professional teams have an 18-and-under and a 16-and-under [program]. Even at 12 years old on a Saturday, you can go see the pro team play or the 14 year olds play in the same gym right after your game. The fact you can see what that next level looks like and feels like is great for the younger players.
Describe your feelings watching LeBron versus Wemby in the Olympics final.
Joakim Noah: I think it was an unbelievable game. Obviously, watching Stephen Curry and LeBron James play on the same court after all those great moments they gave us was really powerful. Especially the way that Steph ended the game, you just saw greatness in full display. I felt like France really played their hearts out and they had a team that French people can be really proud of. When youâre playing in big games like that, all it does is inspire the next generation and I think basketball is in a really good place.
What are your impressions of the Emirates NBA Cup and the In-Season Tournament?
Joakim Noah: The NBA In-Season Tournament is something that is really needed for the NBA because the basketball calendar is a marathon. So being able to incentivise the guys to play hard in November and play for the guys who maybe donât make as much money as the star players just makes everybody play harder. I really appreciate the Emirates NBA Cup because it brings the competition that we all love watching.
The Warriors will open the NBA’s season in-season tournament against Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks.
In the first edition of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament, the Golden State Warriors’ run was over before it started.
Following a loss to Malik Monk and the Sacramento Kings in a thriller in Sacramento at the buzzer, the Warriors were eliminated in the group stage of the tournament.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers went on to win the first in-season tournament, now known as “The Emirates NBA Cup.”
On Tuesday, the NBA announced the schedule of the group stage for the 2024 in-season tournament. The Warriors group stage will begin with the return of Klay Thompson and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks to the Bay Area. The Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets will round out the rest of Golden State’s group. Three teams in the group all made the playoffs last season.
The team with the best record from group play will advance to the knockout rounds that consists of 10 teams. The top team from each group will advance along with a wildcard team from each conference. The knockout rounds are single elimination with the semifinals and finals set in Las Vegas starting on Dec. 14.
The NBA revealed Golden State’s opponents for the group stage of the 2024 in-season tournament.
The NBA’s first-ever in-season tournament came and went for the Golden State Warriors. After tough come-from-behind losses to the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors were eliminated in the group stage of the debut in-season tournament.
In 2024, the Warriors will bring their new-look roster to the second-annual in-season tournament. On Friday, the NBA revealed the draw for the different groups in the tournament. Each conference will have three groups with five teams that will play each other with a ticket to the knockout round on the line. Eight teams will advance to the knockout round.
For the second straight season, the Warriors will be featured in Group C. The Warriors will see the Western Conference defending champion Dallas Mavericks to go along with the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies.
Starting November 12, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of groups into the knockout rounds, with the semifinals and championship held in Las Vegas, December 14 and 17! pic.twitter.com/gtu9CvMCrr
Along with battling against players like Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant and Zion Williamson in the play-in tournament, the Warriors will also get a reunion with Klay Thompson and the Mavericks during the tournament.
Also included in that press release was the news that the Emirates logo will appear on all NBA referee jerseys, starting with the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game. All referees in the WNBA (beginning in 2025) and G League (starting in 2024-25) will also wear Emirates patches.
Emirates is currently a sponsor across various international sports properties, including referee jersey branding for the FA Cup, Cricket World Cup, and the Rugby World Cup.
Although the news was picked up by several outlets, fans may have missed this information if they were focused on the winners and losers of the trade deadline. After the league returned from the brief All-Star break, though, it did not take long for fans to notice the sponsorship:
“The move comes at a time when NBA viewership is up from last year on the major networks and at a time when the league’s referees are being shown on television far more than in the past.
Television cameras generally zoom in on lead officials as they finalize their rulings over an in-arena microphone following coach’s challenges, where referees review replays of debatable calls — a process that often takes minutes at a time. The number of reviews has increased in recent years, as league stakeholders voted in 2023 to allow clubs a third challenge if a coach requests and is successful with his first two tries.”
Now that the NBA patches are public, though, fans shared their thoughts:
Tyrese Haliburton had the perfect response after upsetting the Bucks during the NBA In-Season Tournament.
Watch out, world. Tyrese Haliburton is blossoming in real time.
The Indiana Pacers didn’t get the memo that they weren’t supposed to be heading to the NBA In-Season Tournament Finals. Led by budding star Tyrese Haliburton, they are defying expectations.
Charles Barkley was completely unhinged during the NBA on TNT crossover with ESPN.
Barkley is part of what makes the NBA on TNT crew so special. With Ernie Johnson leading the way, Kenny Smith adding in his two cents and Shaquille O’Neal and Chuck constantly cracking jokes about one other, it’s comedic gold.
It only got better â and totally off the rails â when TNT and ESPN decided to do a crossover event for the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. Chuck immediately came in from the top rope with a suplex on Stephen A. Smith, and things were off and running from there.
Nobody was safe, including former Golden State Warriors general manager, Bob Myers, who dropped by.
Charles Barkley: "I wanna give you credit for jumping off the titanic before it sunk."
Bob Myers: "I have friends over there."
Chuck Barkley: "Yeah, you're gonna see them soon."
Goooood morning, Winners! Happy Friday! I hope you’re having a fantastic day today.
To start us off, I have a question for you. What in the world happened to Zion Williamson?
Everyone is talking about how incredible LeBron James looked last night and, well, rightfully so. The dude is the first person in NBA history to put up at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in just 23 minutes. And he’s 39 years old. That’s a man on a mission right there.
Honestly, at the respective point in their careers, you’d think that those would be numbers we’d be talking about after a Zion Williamson performance. He’s only 23 years old, after all.
Instead, he’s only scoring 13 points and grabbing two rebounds in 44-point losses to 39-year-old LeBron James. That game was such a disappointment to watch from him.
I wasn’t the only one who seemed disappointed. The Inside the NBA crew also ripped him after the game. Charles Barkley said, “He’s got two guys on his team that are better players than him and they shouldn’t be … he should be the best player and he’s not even close.”
“I want to make some points about Zion. Does not run hard. It’s not a diss â it’s going to be a lesson from one great big man to another guy that could be a great big man. I had the same problem my first, second year…He doesn’t create easy points for himself…He doesn’t demand the ball…and he doesn’t have that look. In every sport I know a look. Tiger Woods had that look. Jack Nicholson had that look. He doesn’t have that look.”
That’s nothing but disappointment, folks. It’s hard to blame the crew there. Williamson has the potential to be a great player. We’ve all seen it. The Pelicans were No. 1 in the Western Conference behind Williamson’s play.
Remember what he was like when he came out of Duke? It was easy to think he was going to change the league with the way he played. He rebounded like crazy. He finished at the rim whenever he wanted to. He defended and played hard. We haven’t seen that Zion in the NBA yet.
There are certainly fundamental flaws in the Pelican’s roster and rotation that are in the way here. But the TNT guys are right. Sometimes, it just comes down to playing hard. And Williamson isn’t.
He’s going to have to take those criticisms on the chin. Hopefully, they’ll make him better.
It’s Shohei Time?
Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Folks, it may soon be time. After all of our waiting in silence (much to so many people’s chagrin!), it seems Shohei Ohtani may be ready to make a decision on his future.
This is exciting, man. It’s a once-in-a-generation player making a huge decision that’s going to have ripple effects throughout Major League Baseball. This decision could shift things drastically.
I can’t wait.
A quick backdrop:Â To catch you up, here are some quick primers for Ohtani’s free agency.
It was honestly extremely impressive. Maybe a little too impressive? The Patriots are tied for 2nd in the NFL draft order for now. But a few more games like this and New England might play itself out of a shot at a new quarterback.
Tread carefully, Bill Belichick.
Photo of the day: A star is born
Tyrese Haliburton has absolutely been the best player of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament so far. After dispatching the top two teams in the Eastern Conference in back-to-back games, I don’t think that’s up for debate.
He had his moment against the Bucks, putting up 27 points, 15 assists and 7 rebounds. All eyes were on Hali in the end. This was his moment.
. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
What was even better than that, though, was the Lillard time â er, uh, excuse me â Ty time celebration he did in the fourth quarter.
